Elevator for sucker rods, tubing, etc.



D. R. DALE ELEVATOR FOR SUCKER RODS, TUBING, ETC

March 17, 1931.

Filed June 25, 1930 Patented Mar. 17, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DUDLEY R. DALE, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE S. M. JONES COMPANY, OF

' TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO ELEVATOR FOR SUCKER RODS, TUBING, ETC.

Application filed June 23,

This invention has reference more particularly to oil well supplies and relates primarily to means for gripping and supporting SIJClGII'OClS while being lowered in or raised 5 from a well. In practice, it is customary preparatory to pumping a drilling well to lower therein the sucker-rod carrying the pump plunger, and as the lowering progresses to successively lengthen the sucker-rod by adding new lengths orsections thereto. In doing this, a device called an ele ater is attached to the upper end of the sucker-rod to support it and to then lower with the rod until it rests on the end of the well casing where it holds the rod stationary while another section is being added thereto. This being done, the sucker-rod is again connected to the operating means and the elevator re leased therefrom.

The object of the invention is the provision of a simple, eflicient and improved elevator of this character which is safe in use and has the releasable means for the locking dogs thereof so disposed as to prevent accidental 15 release when in use. Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description thereof.

\Vhile the invention in its broader aspect is capable of embodiment in numerous forms, a preferred embodiment thereof is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure lis a top plan View of a device embodying the invention with a part broken 53 away; Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing the device is gripping engagement with one type of sucker-rod and resting on the upper end of a well tubing; and Fig. 3 is a similar view with the device in gripping engagement with another type of sucker-rod.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the body member of an elevator embodying the invention, which member is of disk shape or of substantially flat circular form and is provided with a radially disposed notch 52 extending from one side edge thereof to a point slightly past its center. This notch is intended to receive or straddle a sucker-rod 3 and has its inner end of squared form to suit 1930. Serial No. 463,167.

the customary square wrench-gripping portiou 4 of a rod, or it may be of any other suitable form as desired. The outer end of the notch 2 is broadened in flared form to facilitate engagement of the elevating member with a sucker-rod, and eachside wall of the notch 2 is provided with a recess 5 in which is mounted. a respective dog 6 on a pivot 7 connecting the walls of the recess. The pivots 7 are disposed near the peripheral edge portion of the member 1 and the dogs 6 are adapted to extend inward therefrom toward the axis of the member and to have their nose portions coact without the portion of the notch inwhich a rod is disposed when mounted therein, thus serving to close the outer end of the notch against removal of the rod therefrom.

Each dog 6 is provided at its pivoted end with an arm 8 projecting away from the notch 2 and pivotally connected to the respective leg end of :1 U-shaped control member 9, which legs extend through guide openings 10 in the body member 1 to the opposite side thereof to the notch 52. The loop or leg connecting portion of the member 9 is disposed entirely within the confines of the body member 1 within a recess 11 provided therein, which recess is of suflicient depth to permit movements of the loop portion of the control member therein transversely of a rod 3 when engaged within the body member. A spring 12, of bowed form in the present instance, is interposed between the base of the recess 11 and the loop of the control member 9 to normally hold such member in the extended position relative to the base of the recess shown in Fig. 1 and in which position the dogs 6 are held in abutting notch closing position. The

outer portion of the recess 11 is of slightly flared form, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, to permit the insertion of the thumb or finger of a hand or of some tool, if desired, to impart an inward movement to the control member 9 against the tension of the spring 12 and effect a retraction of the dogs 6 to release and permit a withdrawal of the body member 1 from engagement with a rod 3.

The bod member 1 is carried by a bail 13, the ends 0 which are journaled on trunnions a rod 3 to be supported, and the upper end of which extends above a well casing, is engaged within the notch 52 of the member 1 after which the dogs 6 close and remain closed by the action of the spring 12 on the control 3 member 9. The point of engagement of the member 1 with the rod is adjacent to a shoulder on the rod'which rests on the member atthe upper marginal edge of the notch 2. This shoulder, which is designated 3' in Fig.

" 2 and 3 in Fig. 3, is disposed in the present instance above the squared. wrench engaging portions: of the rod. /Vhen the member 1 has been engaged with a rod, the rod is then lowered in the well tubing until said member rests on the top of the tubing so that the member 1 coacts with the tubing to support the rod. The bail 13 may then be swung to inoperative position at a side of the elevator and another rod section then screwed into engagement with the upper end of the supported rod. This being done, the upper end of the extended rod section is connected to the rod operating means so that the rod is supported thereby, and the elevator may then be released from the rod. If the elevator is V engaged to a squared or wrench-engaging portion of the rod, the member 1 with the bail 13 projecting laterally therefrom may be used in the manner of a wrench for holding the rod 3 against turning while a new section is being turned into engagement therewith. i

I wish it understood that my invention is not limited to any specific construction, arrangement or form of the parts, as it is capable of numerous modifications and changes without departing from the spirit of the claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by II. S. LettersPatent is: 1

1. In an elevator of the class described, a body member having a notch extending from one side thereof to its central portion to adapt the member to straddle'and have supporting engagement'wlth a rod, dogs pivoted to the member and adapte'dto cooperate to close the mouth portion ofthe notch to prevent removal of an engaged rod therefrom, a U- shaped control member disposed entirely within the body member and having the free ends of its legs attached to said dogs, and means yi'eldingly acting on the loop portion loop portion of said control member being exposed to permit manual engagement and op eration thereof to impart releasing movements to the dog.

2. Inan elevator of the class described, a

body member having a notch extending from one side thereof to its central portion adapted to permit the member to straddle a rod and have supporting engagement with a shouldered portion thereof, said member also having a recess in a side thereof opposed to said notch, dogs pivoted to the member at opposite sides of the notch and adapted to close the notch to prevent removal of a rod therefrom, a U-shaped control member having its loop portion disposed in said recess and its legs movably extending through portions of the body member and connected to said dogs, whereby movements of the control member will impart notch opening or closing movements to said dogs, the loop portion of said control member being entirely disposed within said recess and movable therein to impart notch opening movements to the dogs, yielding means acting on said control member to cause it to normally move the dogs to notch closing position, and means movably connected to said body member for suspending the same. V

3. In an elevator of. the class described, a body member of substantially flat disk form having trunnions projecting diametrically from opposite sides thereof, said member having a radially disposed notch at right angles to said trunnions and extending from an edge of the member inwardly beyond its center, said. member also having a recess in the side edge thereof opposed to said notch, dogs pivoted to said member at opposite sides of said notch and adapted to project into the notch and to cooperate to close the notch against the removal of an engaged rod or other member therefrom, a U-shaped control element mounted in said body member with its loop portion disposed in said recess with in the adjacent edge portion of the body member and having its legs connected to said dog to impart notch opening or closing movements to, said dog when said element is moved, a spring acting on said element to normally hold it in a position to cause said dogs to close said notch, and a suspending bail for the body member having its ends journaled on said trunnions.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name to this specification.

DUDLEY R. DALE.

of the control member to cause itto normally.

retain the dogs in notch closing position, the 

